Kazakhstan Freezes Assets of Legendary Russian Spaceport.
Kazakhstan has impounded Russian assets at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, including equipment belonging to Russia's Space Infrastructure Center, over unpaid fines worth $29.7 million for environmental damage caused by Russia's Soyuz rockets. Baikonur, leased by Russia since Kazakhstan became independent, is a key part of Russia's space program and the only site where it launches missions to the International Space Station. The move is the latest in a series of disputes between the two countries over the terms of the lease and the environmental impact of the rockets.